Hand knitting has to be one of the most tedious ways to create fabric, but like so many others, I’m addicted to it and fuel my addiction by sharing the patterns I have created. Now that I’m writing up patterns, one thing I don’t understand is why some designers annex their copyright saying that you’re not suppose to use their pattern if you’re going to sell the finished item.

When I create a pattern, I have time on my side. Although I put in hours of work to develop the pattern and knit a prototype, I can count on reselling the same pattern many times and many visits to my blog to see the free patterns. In theory, I’ll eventually break even and may even profit as long as people keep coming back.

However, when someone buys a hand knitted object, they have no need for a pattern. Regardless of skill, or time, if the buyer could knit the object themselves they would and since they’re not, the pattern used isn’t even a consideration.

Therefor, if people are going to create items for sale from my patterns, I’m going to encourage them to do it.

Here are my caveats (AKA help a Sista out)…

Do not redistribute patterns. After all, selling patterns and blog visitors is what keeps me going. If you sell the yarn I used in one of my patterns and want to redistribute it, please contact me. My bulk rates are reasonable and I’ll even personalize the PDF with your shop address and logo so it will look snazzy for your customers.

If you have helpers knitting finished objects for you, please buy a copy of the pattern for each of them. Again, selling patterns keeps me going and my bulk rates are reasonable.

You must include attribution with the object. If you’re selling online, please include a link back to either the blog post, here, or the Ravelry pattern. Or if you’re selling at a craft fair, a note safety pinned to the object with pattern name, Karlie Robinson Designs and KarlieRobinson.com is the way to go.

If you like the pattern well enough to create finished objects to sell, would you do me a favor and post pictures and details at Ravelry? I’d love to see your work.

So here’s to all the budding fiber arts entrepreneurs. I hope my patterns contribute to your success.

[…] 4/25/2012 You can sell this blanket as a finished object. See Begone, Personal-Use only patterns for details. Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on faves […]

Have knitted and crocheted for over 55 years but still do not understand why use the provisional cast on. I was taught to start with a slip knot on the one needle , then Just the same as the knit stitch with the second needle , draw the loop through ant take it up and over the end of the first needle.(added one loop) Just continue to add loops in the same fashion until the needed number is on the first needle. This will omit the use of a crochet hook when knitting and also do away with the wasting of yarn, because of having a long tail and the bother of scrap yarn to cast on with. Hope this helps some one and happy knitting for a long time. Sue

We call that the backward loop cast-on, but I’m not sure what it or provisional cast-on has to do with selling finished objects?

But as long as we’re on the topic of cast-ons I only use backward loop when I’m looking for something super stretchy and I never teach it to newbies because they’re hard to manage when getting through the first fiddly parts of learning to knit (Knitted cast-on also allows new knitters to practice the knit stitch – killing two birds with one stone). Otherwise I use the crochet cast on because if I take the loop off the hook and add it to my needle as the last stitch I get cast on that looks exactly like my cast off. (I’m big into seamless if you hadn’t noticed so I also like it when someone can’t tell where I started or stopped)

Provisional cast-ons with the crochet hook and scrap yarn allow me to unravel my chained cast on and graft the top and bottom rows together – again seamlessly.

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Hi!

Sometimes is hard to tell if I'm a high-tech entrepreneur or if I'm a housewife from a different time.

I've been experimenting with websites & online businesses since 1998. I bootstrapped my First eCommerce mail order company in 2001 and a second in 2003 growing that business to nearly $100,000 in gross revenue in it's first full year of operation.

Now, I'm rehabilitating an old house in the wilds of Michigan. Still quite active in Small Business counseling, but spending a little more time on home and family. Come along as I dabble in all the things a Twenty-First Century woman does in a busy week.